Smoking pipe and method of manufacture

ABSTRACT

A smoking pipe has a bowl with a top face opening through which tobacco is positioned and a lower stem receiving bowl opening. An elongated stem is releasably joined to the bowl at a joint arranged for locking the bowl and stem in a smoking position and for permitting sliding of the stem with respect to the bowl to allow ease of removal of burned and unburned tobacco. The top face opening is angularly positioned with respect to the axis of the stem to allow substantial angular movement of the stem toward the top face opening. A bowl tobacco chamber is formed in part by first drilling the stem receiving bowl opening in one direction and then backdrilling said stem receiving bowl opening with a tapered bit.

United States Patent Jodoin 1 Aug. 7, 1973 SMOKING PIPE AND METHOD OFMANUFACTURE Primary Examiner-Joseph S. Reich [76] Inventor: Joseph J. L.Jodoin, 221 Merriam Attorney-wolf Greenfield & Sacks St., Weston, Mass.

' 221 Filed: Nov. 8, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 196,377 [57] ABSTRACT Asmoking pipe has a bowl with a top face opening 1 C1 3 /2 6 throughwhich tobacco is positioned and a lower stem [51] Int. Cl. A241 05/00receiving bowl opening, An elongated stem is releas- [58] Field ofSearch 131/172, 180, 181, ably joined to the bow] at a joint arrangedfor locking l3 U1 226 the bowl and stem in a smoking position and forpermitting sliding of the stem with respect to the bowl to allowReferences Cited ease of removal of burned and unburned tobacco. TheUNITED STATES PATENTS top face opening is angularly positioned withrespect to 1 144,825 6/1915 Dula 1-31 191 the axis of the stemsubstantial angular 1:221,864 4/1917 1rving. 131/191 ment of the stemtoward the top face opening. A bowl 1,223,757 4/1917 Bolte 131/191tobacco am is f rmed in part by first drilling the 185,641 12/1876Lammertz... 131/192 X stern receiving bowl opening in one direction andthen 2,772,680 12/1956 Rchfcld l3l/l92 X backdrilling said stemreceiving bowl opening with a 072,953 6/1927 Martinez 131/226 ux taperedbit. 3,106,922 10/1963 Hefti 131/181 X FOREIGN PATENTS 0R APPLICATIONS 5Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 21,525 0/1902 Great Britain 131/172 //1/ 1 rIf 1 L y a d 26 27 24 SMOKING PIPE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION A large variety of tobacco-smoking pipes are known inthe art. Most such pipes define an integral stem portion and bowl. Thisleads to inconvenience in cleaning of the bowl after smoking. Cleaningis usually carried out by scraping from the bowl face openingdownwardly.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,106,922 proposed a novel sliding stem and bowlarrangement in a tobacco pipe. This patent teaches the use of a bowlchamber axially aligned with a pipe stem placing the bowl face at aright angle to the axis of the stem. Inherent problems in suchconstruction include the necessity for a grating to hold the tobacco inposition and the inconvenience of an unconventional type of smokingsince the bowl opening is essentially at the side rather than in theconventional top position. Moreover, air sealing and joint means ofrelatively complex constructions are suggested for use in the patent.

It is an object of this invention to provide a two-piece bowl and stemconstruction in a smoking pipe which enables the stem to be used as acleaning device to remove unwanted products from the bowl.

Another object of this invention is to provide a smoking pipe inaccordance with the preceding object which can be collapsed for ease ofcarrying as in pants or shirt pockets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel method forforming a joint between a pipe stern and pipe bowl to allow releasableinterlocking of the pipe stem and bowl.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention a smoking pipe has abowl defining a tobacco chamber for holding tobacco. The bowl defines abowl top face opening through which tobacco is positioned in the chamberand a lower stem receiving bowl opening with the tobacco chambertherebetween defining a curved configuration. An elongated stem having asmoke drawing passageway therethrough and comprising a forward plungerface carrying portion and a rear bit portion, is releasably joined tothe bowl. A joint means locks the bowl and stem in a smoking positionwith the stem portion outwardly positioned from the bowl. The jointmeans permits sliding of the stem with respect to the bowl to cause theplunger face to remove unwanted tobacco from the bowl by forcing thetobacco out of the face opening. The joint means is constructed andarranged to permit inward movement of the stem toward the bowl along acurved path.

According to the method of this invention, the pipe bowl is formed byface grinding along an arcuate path to form the curved bowl section,drilling of the stem receiving bowl opening having a constant diameterand subsequent back drilling of the stern receiving bowl opening with atapered bit to form a portion of the joint means.

It is a feature of this invention that the pipe can be collapsed forease of carrying in the apparel of the user. The pipe can be easily andconveniently cleaned without tools simply by moving the stem withrespect to the bowl to thereby force unwanted tobacco out of the topface opening. Since the top face opening is at an angle to the axis ofthe stern due to the curved chamber, a conventional appearing andsmoking pipe is obtained. Because of the releasable joint between thestem and the bowl, the pipe is not subjected to fracture at a rigidjoint by ordinary dropping. The sliding nature of the stem also providesfor smoking of even small amounts of tobacco as by filling the bowlpartially, holding the hand of the user over the bowl top face and backtamping tobacco with the stem. The back tamping compresses the tobaccosufficiently for lighting and smoking. Back tamping of the stem can alsobe used to clear the smoke passageway should it become obstructed duringpacking of the tobacco.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, featuresand advantages of the present invention will be better understood fromthe following specification when read in conjunc? tion with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through the center line thereof;

FIG. 4 is a semidiagrammatic showing illustrating steps in the method ofthis invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference now to the drawingsand more partic ularly FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of the smok'ing pipe is illustrated generally at 10 having a tobacco bowl 11 and astem 12 made up of a forward plunger portion 13 and a rear bit 14. Thestem and bowl are releasably joined together at a joint means 15.

The tobacco bowl 11 is preferably formed of conventional tobacco pipebowl material such as briar and has a bowl top face opening 16 defininga face 17 angularly arranged with respect to the longitudinal axis ofthe stem 12. Preferably the angle that the plane of the face 17 makeswith an extension of the central axis of the stem 13 is less than 45 inorder to have an upwardly facing face and prevent ashes from falling outof the pipe in normal use. At the rearward end of the bowl I1 is a stemreceiving bowl opening 18 which is preferably back tapered to expand indiameter slightly as the to bacco chamber 19 extends from the opening 18toward the face of the pipe as indicated in FIG. 3.

The tobacco chamber 19 has a curved configuration as best seen in FIG. 3to arrange the smoking surface of the tobacco in angular relationship tothe stem thus preventing dropping of ashes in use and avoiding thenecessity for a retaining screen as would be the case if the face 17were perpendicular to the axis of the stem.

The forward portion 13 of the stem is preferably formed'of the samematerial as the pipe bowl, i.e., briar in the preferred example. Portion13 has an elongated axially extending smoke passageway 20 extending fromone end to a second end narrowed by a circular collar 21 in accordancewith known practice. The stem portion 13 itself is cylindrical exceptfor the portion corresponding to the portion of the pipe bowl indicatedat D. This forward portion 22 is frustoconically shaped to match thefrustoconical shape of the portion D of the bowl as best seen in FIG. 3.Thus, by pulling the stem to the left as shown in FIG. 3 while retainingthe bowl in position, one can lock the stem to the bowl (in the fullline position shown) in an airtight releasable seal.

On the other hand, when it is desired to remove a cake of unburnedtobacco particles from the bowl, the stem is pushed forward with respectto the bowl to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 3 whereby the cakewill be pushed from the bowl out of the opening 16 to clean the pipe.Thus, surface 23 of the portion 13 acts as a plunger face in removingunwanted materials from the bowl. Moreover, the plunger can be activatedto tamp tobacco internally. Tobacco can be placed within the bowl in anamount less than necessary to fill the bowl and the plunger movedforward to internally tamp the bowl and form a good smoking plug afterwhich the plunger is withdrawn to the smoking position. Similarly, theplunger can be moved forward to release any trapped tobacco particlesfrom the forward end of the opening 21 if clogging occurs during loadingof the pipe. The plunger can also be moved forward to its dotted lineposition to reduce the over-all size of the pipe for carrying andstorage.

The rear end of the portion 13 has a cylindrical fe-- male recess 24mating with a cylindrical boss 25 of the bit portion 14. Bit 14 can beof conventional material such as hard rubber or the likehaving ateeth-gripping end 26 and a central smoke passageway 27 preferablycoaxial with the smoke passageway of the portion 13. A friction fit isused to hold the bit on the portion 13.

' Many modifications of the stem and bit are possible in accordance withknown constructions. Screw threaded interengagements can be used as wellas filters employed withinthe bit or stem, all as known in the art.While it is preferred that the stem portion 13 and bit 14 be generallycylindrical except for the flattened tooth gripping portion, othershapes can be used. Similarly, the external bowl shape can vary greatly.

Preferably the axial length of the portion 13 is predetermined so thatthe bit can be removed from portion 13 and portion 13 inserted orwithdrawn from the bowl through the face opening 16. This is importantto allow for assembly of the pipe with the novel frustoconical frictionjoint therebetween.

The friction joint means between surface 22 and the bowl portion D isimportant to allow for tight gripping in normal use by a frictionairtight seal with ease of release when wanted.

Turning now to the method of this invention, a novel procedure is usedto form the reverse taper at the portion D of the pipe bowl.

As represented in FIG. 4, the bowl 11 is formed from a briarwood chunkby first drilling through the face opening 16 with a drill bit 30comprising a face drill having a face cutting surface 31. The surface 31cuts only along its planar face and the shaft of the drill bit ispivotally mounted about a point 32 so that it follows the radiusindicated at 33 to drill the chamber with a diameter 34 as it movesalong its arcuate path. The bit 30 makes its arcuate hole and is stoppedat a point 35. The bit 30 moves along a substantially straight line tocover distance 51. A bore 36 having diameter 50, is formed with aconventional drill bit drilling through opening 18. At this point, thebit 30 can be used to mill away the shaded portion 36 to obtain thedesired curvature at the top of the chamber as shown in FIG. 4.

ln a subsequent step, after drilling of the straight bore 36' andarcuate portion formed by drill bit 30, a frustoconical bit (not shown)is inserted through the: opening 16 and used to form the frustoconicalportion D which narrows toward the stern opening 18. With the shank ofthe frustoconical bit extending toward the left as seen in FIG. 3,through the opening 18, the bit is drawn in the same leftward direction,thereby providing the frustoconical shape shown.

The pipe is assembled by taking the preformed stem 13 with itsfrustoconical forward section 15 and inserting it through the faceopening 16 after which the bit portion 14 is attached and the pipecompleted.

This method of drilling from the face opening 16 along a first arcuatepath toward a generally cylindrical area of the bowl followed by laterdrilling from the opening 18 and then forming the frustoconical surfaceis important and novel in that it allows ease of manufac ture of thepositive locking joint means.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, many modifications are possible. The particular shape of thetobacco chamber shown is preferred although other shapes can beemployed. in all cases, the chamber must be curved or arcuate and thestem must follow an arcuate path to be effective in removingafter-products of tobacco burnmg.

ln some cases, the face 23 of the stem as well as the forward portion ofthe frustoconical surface of the stern can be provided with an abrasivesurface for honing any crust buildup in the pipe bowl. Similarly, theface can vary in shape and need not be planar.

What is claimed is:

1. A smoking pipe comprising,

a bowl for holding tobacco,

said bowl defining a bowl top face opening through which tobacco ispositioned in the bowl and a generally circular lower stern receivingbowl opening with a tobacco chamber therebetween defining a curvedconfiguration and a chamber portion increasing in diameter from saidcircular lower stem receiving openingin a forward direction,

an elongated stem having a smoke drawing passageway therethrough andcomprising a forward plunger face carrying portion and a rear bitportion, said stem and bowl being releasably joined together at a jointmeans for locking said bowl and stem in a smoking position with the stembit portion extending rearwardly from the bowl, and for-permittingsliding of said stem with respect to said bowl to cause said plunger toremove burned and unburned tobacco from said bowl by forcing saidtobacco out of said top face opening,

said joint means being constructed and arranged to permit movement ofsaid stem toward said bowl top face opening along a curved path,

said joint means comprising mating frustoconical surfaces positioned onsaid stern and bowl to permit releasable locking thereof in airtightsealing engagement.

2. A smoking pipe in accordance with claim I wherein said bowl top faceopening is defined by a flat surface lying in a plane arranged at anangle of less than 45 to an extension of the elongated axis of saidstem.

3. A smoking pipe in accordance with claim 2 wherein said forwardplunger face carrying portion has an axial length dimensioned to permitpassage of said portion through said chamber from said stern receivingopening to said top face opening whereby said portion can be removed andinserted through said chamber.

sageway through said face opening of said bowl to cut a reverse taper insaid cylindrical passageway whereby said chamber defines a generallyfrustoconical surface at said stem receiving opening with a smalldiameter portion at said opening passing to a larger diameter portion insaid chamber. 5. A method in accordance with the method of claim 4 andfurther comprising passing a stem portion through said chamber from saidtop bowl face opening to said stern opening to mount said stern on saidbowl.

1. A smoking pipe comprising, a bowl for holding tobacco, said bowldefining a bowl top face opening through which tobacco is positioned inthe bowl and a generally circular lower stem receiving bowl opening witha tobacco chamber therebetween defining a curved configuration and achamber portion increasing in diameter from said circular lower stemreceiving opening in a forward direction, an elongated stem having asmoke drawing passageway therethrough and comprising a forward plungerface carrying portion and a rear bit portion, said stem and bowl beingreleasably joined together at a joint means for locking said bowl andstem in a smoking position with the stem bit portion extendingrearwardly from the bowl, and for permitting sliding of said stem withrespect to said bowl to cause said plunger to remove burned and unburnedtobacco from said bowl by forcing said tobacco out of said top faceopening, said joint means being constructed and arranged to permitmovement of said stem toward said bowl top face opening along a curvedpath, said joint means comprising mating frustoconical surfacespositioned on said stem and bowl to permit releasable locking thereof inairtight sealing engagement.
 2. A smoking pipe in accordance with claim1 wherein said bowl top face opening is defined by a flat surface lyingin a plane arranged at an angle of less than 45* to an extension of theelongated axis of said stem.
 3. A smoking pipe in accordance with claim2 wherein said forward plunger face carrying portion has an axial lengthdimensioned to permit passage of said portion through said chamber fromsaid stem receiving opening to said top face opening whereby saidportion can be removed and inserted through said chamber.
 4. A method offorming a tobacco chamber in a pipe bowl, said method comprising,passing a face cutting bit along an arcuate path into a bowl to cut anarcuate chamber passageway extending from a top bowl face opening,cutting a cylindrical straight passageway into said bowl from a stemreceiving opening thereof to form a continuous passageway with saidarcuate passageway, passing a frustoconical bit into said continuouspassageway through said face opening of said bowl to cut a reverse taperin said cylindrical passageway whereby said chamber defines a generallyfrustoconical surface at said stem receiving opening with a smalldiameter portion at said opening passing to a larger diameter portion insaid chamber.
 5. A method in accordance with the method of claim 4 andfurther comprising passing a stem portion through said chamber from saidtop bowl face opening to said stem opening to mount said stem on saidbowl.